The full training programme for sport and exercise medicine lasts a minimum of six years. Trainees must apply on completion of foundation programmes to one of three different ST1-2 training routes as detailed below each lasts a minimum of two years:

2 years of core medical training obtaining membership of the royal college of physicians (MRCP) 2 years of Anaesthetics and Emergency training obtaining membership of the royal college of emergency medicine (MRCEM )

the GP training programme obtaining membership of the royal college of general practitioners (MRCGP).

Trainees undertaking CMT or ACCS as their core training programme are required to obtain full MRCP (UK) before entry into specialty training at ST3.

Following completion of ST1 and ST2 years, the trainees must then apply for the SEM specialty training starting at ST3. The SEM specific training lasts four years.

All 2017 person specifications can be found on the NHS specialty training website. Please note that these documents are updated every year in the autumn before the recruitment round opens.

Trainees can complete the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine Diploma Exam from ST3 onwards in passing the Diploma exam a doctor can also apply to the Faculty for membership of the faculty of sports and exercise medicine (MFSEM) status.

consider becoming a student member of the BMA (The British Medical Association is the trade union and professional association for doctors and provides careers advice)

make your specialty decisions in good time so that you can test it out before committing yourself, e.g. by using hospital visits and clinical placements arranged as part of your course to ask questions and observe people at work

choose the topic of your supervised research project carefully to test out your career thinking

Foundation trainees Expand / Collapse

remember your first priority is to demonstrate that you have developed the personal, learning, clinical, practical and management skills needed by all doctors

think laterally when applying for rotations – vacancies may not be available in SEM so apply for a rotation in a related field i.e. A&E, GP, acute medicine, muscularskeletal medicine or rehabilitation medicine

read as much information as you can on the websites of relevant professional bodies

impress interviewers by showing that your interest in the specialty is intrinsically motivated, i.e. you are drawn to the work and not just attracted by admiration of someone you have shadowed (You will also be happier in your career in that specialty many years later)

be prepared to move to where the vacancies are

study for the examinations for the membership of your chosen Royal College

continue to develop your practical and academic expertise

undertake a research project – the FSEM can provide guidance and BASEM award bursaries

try to get some of your work published and present at national and international meetings

join or start a Journal Club (a group who meet to critically evaluate academic research)